Influence of high-heeled shoe parameters on biomechanical performance of young female adults during stair ascent motion

Background: High-heeled shoes are currently preferred by women due to contemporary aesthetics. However, high-heeled shoes may increase the effort required to ascend stairs and, hence, alter biomechanical performance. Research question: How do high-heel shoe parameters affect the pelvis position, lower extremities kinematics, and ground reaction force in young women during stair ascent motion? Methods: Stair ascent experiments were performed with 20 healthy adult women. The participants were instructed to ascend a 3-step staircase, wearing heeled shoes of different heel heights and heel types and one pair of flat shoes as the control group. Changes in lower body biomechanics were analyzed with kinematics and ground reaction force variables collected from the dominant limb. A two-way repeated ANOVA was performed to determine which variables were affected by heel type and which were affected by heel height or a combination of both. Results: As the heel height increased, an increased range of ankle dorsiflexion-plantarflexion, as well as pelvic rotation, was observed(P = 0.039 and P = 0.003, respectively). A thinner heel type displayed a larger pelvic forward tilt movement(P = 0.026)and 1st peak vertical force(P = 0.025), as well as a smaller 2nd peak vertical force (P = 0.002). With high heels, increased external rotation of the knee, inversion and plantar flexion, and flexion values of the knee were observed. We also observed decreased external rotation of the pelvis, ankle eversion, varum, and dorsiflexion. Significance: To stabilize body posture during stair ascent motion with high-heeled shoes, compensatory response including increasd pelvic range of motion and changing the joint angles of the lower extremities.